Late actress Li Li-hua was Jackie Chan's 'mother' for over 50 years

PHOTO: Sina Weibo

Legendary movie queen Li Li-hua, who died aged 92 in Singapore on Sunday (Mar 19), was widely respected and admired by many of her fellow actors and actresses in the entertainment industry, including Jackie Chan.

In fact, for over 50 years Chan referred to the elder actress as his godmother, according to Shin Min Daily News.

The pair both starred in the 1963 movie "The Story of Qin Xianglian", in which Li played the mother of Chan, who at the time was just nine years old.

More than half a century later, Chan presented Li with the lifetime achievement award at the 2015 Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan.

During his speech, he said: "I called her mother once, but the title has stuck for more than 50 years since then."

Chan also described Li as an "eternal star" and an "eternal goddess", before dropping to his knees to present her with the award.

Movie star Li Li-hua dies at 92

Li was in a wheelchair on stage as she was fatigued after her flight to Taiwan, but appeared to be in good spirits as she accepted the award to a standing ovation.

It would be her last public appearance.

Li was also bestowed with another lifetime achievement award at 2016's Hong Kong Film Awards. However, she was unable to accept the award in person due to her condition, and was represented at the ceremony by her daughter.

With a career spanning more than 120 films in nearly four decades, she was known as the "evergreen tree" of Chinese cinema, said Taiwan's Central News Agency.

Her most famous roles include imperial beauty Yang Guifei and empress Wu Zetian, while she also became the first Chinese actress to star in a Hollywood film with her role in the 1958 war romance China Doll.